KUWAIT: WIRELESS INTERNET SURVEY RESULTS

UNCLAS KUWAIT 001499 SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR FOR J. BUNTIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ECON ETRD KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT: WIRELESS INTERNET SURVEY RESULTS REF: STATE 85946 The following answers to State's Wireless Internet Survey (reftel) are supplied by Engineer AbdulAzziz Mohammad Al-Osaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Information Systems at Kuwait's Ministry of Communication, and are keyed to questions in reftel para 6. ¶A. Yes, the Government of Kuwait (GOK) has allocated unlicensed radio-frequency spectrum for use by Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and similar technologies. The frequency band is 2.4-2.4835 GHz and does not exceed 100 mw. There are no separate allocations for indoor and outdoor use. The GOK is not planning to authorize Wi-Fi services as lower power devices without a specific radio-service allocation. ¶B. Wi-Fi can be used without a license in Kuwait, provided the Wi-Fi is indoors. While no licenses are required, users must obtain type approval certificates from the Ministry of Communication. ¶C. No, Wi-Fi systems cannot be used for commercial purposes without a license in Kuwait. ¶D. No, there are not any commercial Wi-Fi networks currently operating in Kuwait that provide service to the public. ¶E. Post cannot provide examples of how Wi-Fi is currently being used in Kuwait, because nothing has been implemented yet for commercial use. ¶F. While several Wi-Fi units have been sold for indoor use, few links have been implemented as point-to-point for testing purposes. The GOK could not provide specific numbers for indoor use Wi-Fi systems sold in the country. JONES